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Monday, July 6, 2009

I am not sure how many people realize, but insulin pumps cost about $7000 CDN and another $250-$300 per month in supplies. Even with private insurance, patients still usually pay 20%-40% of the pumps cost.

After going back to university and buying into the school's private health insurance plan I realized it might be the best opportunity to purchase an insulin pump. It would still cost me about $2500 CDN, but that was more manageable than the full price. Lucky for me though, just before the purchase, there came this...

Ontario is investing $741 million in new funding on a comprehensive diabetes strategy over four years to prevent, manage and treat diabetes.

The strategy includes an online registry that will enable better self-care by giving patients access to information and educational tools that empower them to manage their disease. The registry will also give health care providers the ability to easily check patient records, access diagnostic information and send patient alerts. The registry is set to come online starting Spring 2009.

Other key elements of the strategy include:

Improving access to insulin pumps and supplies for more than 1300 adults with type 1 diabetes by funding these services for people over the age of 18.

Educational campaigns to prevent diabetes by raising awareness of diabetes risk factors in high risk populations, such as the Aboriginal and South Asian communities.

Increasing access to team-based care closer to home by mapping the prevalence of diabetes across the province and the location of current diabetes programs in order to align services and address service gaps.

Ontario's diabetes strategy will help tackle a growing - and expensive - health care challenge. The number of Ontarians with diabetes has increased by 69 per cent over the last 10 years - and is projected to grow from 900,000 to 1.2 million by 2010. Treatment for diabetes and related conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease currently cost Ontario over $5 billion each year.

The strategy will support Ontario's two top health-care priorities of improving access to care and reducing emergency wait times.

My pump was fully covered by the government and every three months I receive a cheque to cover the cost of supplies. Two words: thank you.